Cobh Ramblers continued their winning form with a 2-0 win away to Finn Harps.
Finn Harps 0
Cobh Ramblers 2
On Friday night Cobh Ramblers completed what is currently the longest away trip in the League of Ireland, a total of 860 kilometres from St. Coleman’s Park, Cobh to Finn Park, Ballybofey and back. Cork City to Derry City is slightly longer but these teams are no longer in the same division. This coupled with the fact it was the third match in a week for both teams ensure the game would stretch the players endurance to its limit. The weather conditions on a wet and windy evening in Donegal did not help this situation.
Ramblers went into the game on the back of two wins which has reignited their season after a slow start. Finn Harps were unbeaten in three games and were undefeated at home this season. Cobh’s manager Fran Rockett opted for the same starting eleven which had swept Treaty aside 4-0 in the previous game. Shane ‘Big Griff’ Griffin, on the road back from injury, was on the bench. 20-year-old Rhys Kelly-Noonan continued to retain his place upfront in favour of Wilson Waweru.
The Rams were front foot directly from the kick-off with Dylan McGlade, fresh from 5 goals in his last two games, striking a long range shot from outside the box, forcing a save from Lorenzo Piaia in the Harps’s goal. On 11 minutes Rhys Gourdie swivelled and got a shot of in the box but his effort was straight at Piaia. In the 13th minute Lumingo got free in the box for Harps but his shot low to Martin’s left was well saved by the Cobh keeper. That was about as good as it got for Harps with Ramblers taking control of the game helped by a strong breeze at their back.
As the half wore on Ramblers began to dominate possession and territory, creating a number of good chances. On 25 minutes McGlade, full of confidence from recent performances again tried a shot from distance which was well held by Piaia in the worsening conditions. Two minutes later Rhys Brennan latched onto a long ball over the top from Buckley but his effort was smothered by Piaia at his near post and Harps were able to clear. On 32 minutes Callum Honohan found Kelly-Noonan in the box with an incisive through ball. The Ramblers forward’s shot was once again well saved by Piaia. Two minutes later Oran Crowe shot from distance but his effort was never really troubling Harps Brazilian goalkeeper. The Donegal side were somewhat fortunate to be level at the break.
Despite playing against the wind in the second half Cobh continued to have the upper hand. Four minutes into the half McGlade played a dangerous cross into the Harps box, finding Rhys Brennan free in the box but the Bohemians loanee could only steer his header over the bar. On 62 minutes with conditions growing ever worse Lucas Curtin unleashed a shot from 20 yards which beat Piaia all ends up and came crashing back off the crossbar. Rhys Gourdie was beaten to the rebound by the Harps defence.
A 71st minute freekick from McGlade found Honohan in the box but his header was again well saved by the Harps keeper. A minute later Ramblers were ahead. With Finn Harps struggling to clear their box Gourdie sent in a great cross from the right which was meet at the back post by Frahill. The Cobh centre half nodded it back across the box where his defensive partner Gary Buckley latched on to it and slotted home from 6 yards.
With Finn Harps pushing for an equaliser space began to open up for the Cobh attackers. Two minutes after the opening goal Brennan broke on the right only to have his shot parried by Piaia. The rebound fell to Kelly-Noonan 10 yards out who squirmed his shot wide when he should have scored. Less than ten minutes later, with only nine minutes left on the clock, Kelly-Noonan had his goal, latching on to a poor back pass by Harps defender Adam McDaid. Once through on goal Kelly-Noonan made no mistake in what was a first senior League of Ireland goal for the 20 year old.
With time running out for Harps they began to commit more players forward. From a corner in the 84th minute Harps substitute Zerrouk scuffed his shot from close range which was well saved by Martin. Finn Harps Bradley following up was late on the Ramblers keeper and was booked for his troubles. With a minute of regular time remaining Kai O’Neill on for Rhys Gourdie broke through but his shot was saved well by the feet of Piaia. Ramblers ran out deserved winners and continued their recent resurgence.
Rhys Kelly-Noonan, in his first season with the Rams after time with Midelton in the Munster Senior League and Cork City u20s, was delighted with his goal and the general performance. “It’s an unbelievable feeling. So happy to get my first for the year. So proud of all the lads for coming up to a hard away day in terrible conditions against a very solid team and coming away with three well deserved points. Onto the next.”
The result moves Cobh up to 5th on 15 points alongside Bray Wanderers and UCD in fourth and third respectively. Wexford in second place are only one point better off with 16. Finn Harps are left in 7th place on 11 points.
Next Ramblers return to face Longford Town while Finn Harps travel to UCD. Both games will be played on April 17th.
Rhys Noonan strike that doubled Cobh’s lead! pic.twitter.com/Y9pesZjno9
— League of Ireland (@LeagueofIreland) April 10, 2026
LineUps
FINN HARPS: Piaia, Cullen, Tourish, Brogan (Johnston, 79 mins), Bradley-Walsh, Monteiro (Bradley, 57 mins), Ajibola (McHugh, 63 mins), McNamee (McDaid, 79 mins), McAteer, Lumingo (Zerrouk, 57 mins), Fanle.
COBH RAMBLERS: Martin, Honohan, Frahill, Gourdie (O’Neill, 86 mins), McGlade (Adenopo, 80 mins), Brennan, Curtin, Crowe (O’Halloran, 88 mins), Kelly-Noonan, Carroll (Griffin, 80 mins), Buckley.
Referee: Mark Patchell.